By Matt Turer — @MattTurer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Three times this season, OzarksSportsZone.com will release local softball power rankings. Like our other power rankings, these rankings are based on dominance by Class, not head-to-head. This is the second edition of the 2018 Softball Power Rankings.
Recent success and strength of schedule are also factored into the rankings.
Overall record, Class and Last Week’s ranking are listed in parenthesis.
ALL RECORDS AND INFORMATION ARE PRIOR TO GAMES PLAYED ON SEPT. 28
1) Republic (15-2, C4, LW: 2)
A one-run loss to Kickapoo in a game they led 2-0 is forgiven and forgotten with a 9-4 win over Nixa, a 7-6 victory against Bolivar and an 8-7 walk-off over district rival Webb City. That last win over the Cardinals came off a dramatic three-run Julia Higgins dinger (her 7th) with Republic trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh. It also propels the Tigers to the top spot.
2) Logan-Rogersville (15-5, C3, LW: 3)
Rogersville got itself some revenge on Tuesday with a 14-9 win over a Monett program that knocked them out in last year’s Class 3 sectionals by a 7-3 final before going on to win a state title. Perhaps equally of note (or even more so) is a 3-1 loss at McDonald County on Thursday. The 16-2 Mustangs could meet the Wildcats in this year’s sectionals if both take their districts.
3) Reeds Spring (12-3, C3, LW: 4)
Three games. Three wins. The Wolves took care of business since our last rankings by winning three games they should win: 12-0 vs. Aurora, 2-0 at East Newton, 16-1 at Cassville. Izzy Erickson did this on the mound over three starts: 18.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 44 Ks. Not fair.
4) Webb City (14-6, C4, LW: 1)
A .500 record over their last six games drops the Cardinals from the top spot in the rankings. Especially with two of those three losses coming against district rivals Neosho and Republic. Webb City did lead in the sixth inning in both those games, with a four-run Neosho sixth and a three-run Republic seventh turning would-be wins into losses.
5) Camdenton (13-5, C4, LW: 6)
The combined record of Camdenton’s opponents since our last rankings? 12-44. The Lakers did what you’d want them to do against weaker competition, outscoring those four 63-6 (including a combined 45-0 over Waynesville and Smith-Cotton). The conference title is all wrapped up for the Lakers.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
6) Kickapoo (13-4, C4, LW: 8)
Carlee Wolfe’s walk-off single gave the Chiefs a huge 3-2 win over Republic back on September 21. Kickapoo also rolled to wins over Rolla, Hillcrest, Carthage and West Plains on its way to a 5-0 mark since our last rankings. Kickapoo wouldn’t see Republic until the state quarterfinals, but if they get there, they know they can win.
7) McDonald County (15-2, C3, LW: 10)
In our initial rankings, we noted that the Mustangs dropping down to Class 3 makes them an interesting candidate for a tournament run. We also said a 3-1 win over Reeds Spring was promising. You can add a 3-2 walk-off win over Logan-Rogersville to that list of “hey look at us” moments.
8) Bolivar (11-2, C3, LW: 7)
Relatively stress-free wins over Carl Junction, Cassville, Hillcrest and Osage are good to see. A 7-6 loss to Republic could be even better. The Liberators hung with maybe the area’s best Class 4 team after trailing 4-0 in the third inning. It was defense that did them in. Bolivar outhit Republic 9-5 but committed five errors that contributed to three unearned runs. The rankings drop for Bolivar is only due to more notable wins from Kickapoo and McDonald County.
9) Willow Springs (13-1, C2, LW: 10)
The Bears lost big to a Class 4 Platte County but rolled against like and lower-Class opponents, including nice wins over a pair of strong Class 1 programs in Dora and Norwood. The big unknown looming over Willow Springs is how good defending district champion Ava (10-6) is this season. The two will play in Willow on October 1.
10) Monett (11-6, C3, LW: 5)
One-run losses to Class 4 Webb City and a pesky Seneca team (C3) combined with dropping a 14-9 shootout with Rogersville put the Cubs at 3-3 since our last rankings. The wins came over Lamar, Carl Junction and Nevada–all games you’d expect Monett to win.
THE FINAL 5
11) Crocker (11-4, C1, LW: 11)
The Lions fell for a second time this season to one-loss Iberia, but have lost both games by a combined three runs. Crocker’s other loss since our last rankings was a 2-1 defeat to undefeated (16-0) Vienna. Why talk about the losses first? Because Crocker is right there with these teams. As for their five wins since our last rankings? Put simply, they crushed everyone else.
12) Warsaw (17-1, C2, LW: 12)
Easy wins over Clinton, Eldon and Marshall are what we’ve seen from Warsaw over the last 10 days. The Wildcats outscored those three 30-4 and are rolling towards district play. The Class 2 sectional matchup we’d all love to experience is Warsaw against Willow Springs–two teams with a combined 30-2 record.
13) Weaubleau (14-4, C1, LW: 14)
Beating Fair Play 6-1 is good. Losing to Stoutland 3-0 in 14 innings is forgivable. So is a 6-0 loss to Class 2 Sherwood. The Tigers had no problems with their other four opponents. But let’s revisit that 14-inning game. Jenna Daggett tossed 14.0 innings for Weaubleau, striking out 21 on 169 pitches. She was outdueled by Bree Sein who tossed 20 strikeouts to just five hits over a 14-inning shutout on 147 pitches. Stoutland sits at 9-4 and should be considered a threat in Class 1 District 2. The two wouldn’t meet again until the quarterfinals.
14) Stoutland (9-4, C1, LW: NR)
Stoutland jumps into the rankings this week after an impressive 14-inning, 3-0 shutout over Weaubleau. Bree Sein was incredible in the win, striking out 21 over the 14.0 full innings while tossing a complete game on 147 pitches. The Tigers are only behind Weaubleau due to a tougher path to the quarterfinals.
15) Morrisville (11-1, C1, LW: NR)
A 14-10 loss to Macks Creek has gone from being a red flag that kept Marion C. Early out of the first power rankings to nothing but an outlier. The Panthers were dominant before that loss and have posted key wins since, including a 9-6 final over Walnut Grove and a 7-6 win over Fair Play. Now the favorite in Class 1 District 3, a good Class 1 measuring stick against Norwood is coming up.
FIRST ONE OUT
Ozark (13-7, C4)
The Tigers went into Webb City on Wednesday and came out with a great looking 10-3 win. While a team like Class 1 Norwood (which was ranked last week) could easily be in this spot, let’s see what Ozark does with Republic next week. The Tigers are one of the best and most consistent programs in southwest Missouri, and early losses to Kickapoo and Nixa can’t let us overlook them late.
